Shoulder mark



Ma'y e, 1947. s, MARS 2,420,257

SHOULDER MARK Filed Aug. 18, 1944 IN VEN TOR.

Sc/pnzora/Hars Patented May 6, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOULDER MARK Solomon Mars, New York, N. Y.

Application August 18, 1944, Serial No. 550,089

4 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in shoulder marks.

More particularly, the invention proposes a new and improved shoulder mark which is intended to be worn with service or other uniforms.

Heretofore it was customary to provide a rigid shoulder board in a cloth casing. A flexible strip for attaching the cloth casing and shoulder board to a uniform, in accordance with the old construction, was attached to the cloth casing. This arrangement embodies numerous defects. In a short period of time the cloth casing would lose its body and then the shoulder strap would be loosened. Later on, the cloth casing would tear, so that the strap would tear away.

'I'his invention proposes a shoulder mark which is characterized by the fact that the flexible strap is rigidly connected with the rigid shoulder board. The cloth casing is provided with a slit through which the rear end of the flexible strap extends so that it may be secured to the rigid shoulder board.

The invention also contemplates modified forms, one of which is disclosed and is characterized by an arrangement by which the flexible shoulder strap may be disconnected from, and connected with, the shoulder board at will.

Still further, the invention proposes a shoulder mark which is simple in construction, durable, and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and f the Objects and advantages thereof, reference will -be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig, 1 is a perspective View of a shoulder mark constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional vew of the shoulder mark shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom View of the shoulder mark shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary bottom view of a shoulder mark constructed in accordance With a modified form of this invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

The new and improved shoulder mark, in accordance with that form of the invention disclosed in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, includes a rigid shoulder board I0 preferably constructed of thermosetting composition material. The board I0 is of ornamental design and has one end formed with a point. This is a standard design for one type of shoulder mark. A cloth casing I I engages about the shoulder board I0. This cloth is shown constructed of two pieces, a top piece I2 and a bottom piece I3, which are secured together by lines of stitches along their edges.

A flexible strip I4 preferably of relatively thick leather, or some similar flexible material, passes through a slit I5 formed in the bottom layer I3 of the cloth casing I I. The inner end of the fiexible strip I4 is secured to the shoulder board I0 by several fastening elements such as studs IG.

The outer ends of the flexible strip I4 and the covered shoulder board I0 are formed with the usual eyelets IIla and I 4a at the outer ends of the board and strap respectively, which parts Illa and 1421 provide a means at the outer end of the mark for engagement with any flexible or other tie-down means, as the familiar tape loops on the shoulders of naval uniforms.

The use of 4this shoulder mark is identical to similar prior articles. However, the main feature of the invention resides in the fact that the nexible strip I4 is attached to the rigid shoulder board III.

In Figs. 4 and 5, a modified form is shown. In this form of the invention, the shoulder board I0 is formed with a group of bayonet slots I8. 'Ihe inner end of the flexible strip I4 is provided with headed studs I9 which were engaged through the large ends of the bayonet slots I8 and which then were moved to the small ends of the bayonet slots so as to rigidly connect the flexible strip I4 with the shoulder board III. 'I'he slit I5 in the cloth casing II through which the flexible strip I4 passes is just Wide enough for the exible strip I4 to pass. For this reason the cloth casing II will hold the flexible strip I4 in the position illustrated on the drawing, in which position the headed studs I9 are in the small ends of the bavonet slots I8.

When it is desired to remove the flexible strip I4 it is necessary that the inner end of the ilexible strip I4 be moved laterally against the relatively Weak holding action of the cloth casing I I. The cloth casing II may shift slightly about the rigid board I0 or may flex or be stretched. When the headed studs I9 are in the large ends of the bayonet slots I8, the inner end of the exible strip I4 will be lifted so as to disengage the headed studs from the bayonet slots. The strip I4 is now free to be removed.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to -be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming Within the scope of the invention as dened in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A shouldermark, comprising a rigid shoulder board, afcloth casing iifor said shoulder board, a exible strap attached to said shoulder board and extending out of a slit in said casing, and headed studs cooperative with bayonet slots for releasably attaching said flexible strip with said shoulder board.

2. A shoulder mark, comprising a rigid shoulder board, a cloth casing for said shoulder-board, a ilexible strap attached to said shoulder board and extending out of a slit in said casing, and headed studs cooperative with bayonet slots for releasably attaching said flexible strip withlsaid shoulder board, and said slitfbeing of a-Width-to engage the edges ofrsaid flexible strap for'holdinglthe lexible'strap so thatitheheaded studsremain engaged in said slots.

i3. A shoulder mark having a 'rigid :shoulder board enclosed Within a cloth Ycasinggza flexible Astrap extending along the bottom face of said shoulder boardand having one end extended into said casing througha slii-to a position adjacent thebottom faceof said shoulder board, and means securing the inner end of said flexible strap to the bottom face of said board, comprising headed studs on said flexible strap releasably engageable with complementary bayonet slots formed in said shoulder board.

4. A shoulder mark having a rigid shoulder board and a fabric casing enclosing the same, said casing having a slit therein disposed across one end of the shoulder board and adjacent to the bot- -tom ,face of the shoulder board, `said Lshoulder board being provided With'a pluralityof slots disposed in a row parallel to the slit, and each of said slots having a Wide and a narrow end, a iexible strapdisposed under and against the bottom face of the shoulder board and having one end thereof extendedthrough said slit into said casing. and

studscarried by said end engageable with the slots of the shoulder board to detachably couple said `iexible strap to the shoulder board, the board and strap having openings in their outer end to receive Ya ztie.

.SOLOMON MARS.

REFERENCES CITED The following referencesare of record'in the 'lefof this patent:

FOREIGN g PATENTS Number Country Date 16,429 Swiss Aug. 12, 1901 667,946 German Nov. 23, 1938 

